Clutch mechanism



y 1935- A. J. ZWIERZINA 2,001,758

CLUTCH MECHANISM Filed NOV. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

4L 0/6 Jim/1:21pm

A 1' ORNEY.

Q UNITED "STAT Patented May 21, 1935 CLUTCH MECHANISM Alois J.Zwierzina, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ackerman-Blaesser-Fezzey, Inc.,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November'ZZ, 1932,Serial No. 643,906

2 Claims.

This invention relates to clutch mechanism for window regulators and theprincipal feature of the invention resides in the provision of 'a deviceof this character which is so constructed as to reduce the speed betweenthe regulator handle and the driven gear thereby increasing the powerapplied to the driven gear. I

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a clutchmechanism for a window regulator in which a system of differentialgearing is interposed between the regulator handle and the driven gearto reduce the speed of rotation of the driven gear relative to the speedof rotation of the regulator handle thereby increasing the leverageapplied to the driven gear.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a clutchmechanism in which all of the reduction gearing is self contained in theclutch housing thereby obviating the necessity of securing the reductiongearing to the lock board to which the clutch mechanism is secured.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form ofconstruction by which these objects are attained is shown in'theaccompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an end view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the devicesecured to a lock board.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line.

4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l. gFig. 6 is a detail elevational view of the plate carrying the pinions.

Fig. 7' is a side elevational view of the driven member of the clutch.

Fig. 8 is an end view thereof.

Fig, 9 is a detail perspective view of the driving member of the clutch.

Referring to the drawings, the housing I is provided with the depressedportion 2 having an aperture 3 formed in the base thereof and providedwith the apertures 4 in the flange thereof for receiving suitable rivetsfor permitting the housing to be secured to the usual lock board 5. Theinner peripheral edge of the depressed portion 2 is formed with theteeth 6 forming an internal gear in the housing I for a purpose to behereinafter described. A cup shaped member 1 extends through theaperture 3 in the housing I and is formed with a flange 8, the outerperiphery of the same being formed with the teeth 9 for engaging withthe teeth 6 thereby preventing rotation of the member l. The base of thecup shaped member 1 is provided with the bearing portion 9' for closelyencircling the cylindrical portion ll] of the driving member ll.

The driving member II is formed with the 5 squared end l2 having anaperture l3 therein and the regulator handle {4, which may be of anydesired construction, is insertible over the squared portion i2 and issecured thereto by the pin I 5 extending through the handle and theaperture l3 in the squared portion l2. The opposite end of the drivingmember extends into the cup shaped member 1' and is formed with the lugsor segments l6 and H. The end of the member ll extending into the cupshaped member 1 is formed with a longitudinally extending bore l8 forclosely encircling the cylindrical portion-l9 of the member 28,]the samebeing formed with the flange 2|, the squared portion 22 and thecylindrical portion 23. The driven member 25 is formed with theoppositely disposed arcuate -portions 26 and 21 and the shorteroppositely disposed arcuate portions 28 and 29 and the base 38 of thedriven member is formed with the squaredaperture 3| of a size to closelyfit over the squared portion 22 of the member 20. By referring to Figs.3 and 5 it will be seen that the base 33 of the driven member 25 abutsthe flange 2| on the member thereby preventing longitudinal displacementin one direction of the driven member relative to the member 20. A cupshaped washer 32 is insertible in the member I and the base thereof isprovided with an aperture 33 for permitting the insertion of thecylindrical portion H) of the member I I therethrough.

A helical spring 34 is insertible in the cup shaped member I and theends 35 and 35 are inturned as best illustrated in Fig. 4, and one endcoil of the spring is in close juxtaposition to the flange of the cupshaped member 32 while the opposite end coil is in close juxtapositionto the arcuate portions 28 and 29 thereby preventing any appreciableamount of movement of the spring 34 longitudinally of the cup shapedmember Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the end 35 of thespring 34 is inturned and extends between one side edge of the arcuateportion 26 and the adjacent shoulder formed by the lug or segment itwhile the opposite inturned end 36 of the spring extends between theopposite side edge of the arcuate portion 26 and the adjacent shoulderformed by the lug or segment l1. It will be further noted that thedistance between one side edge of the arcuate portion 21 and the ad- 8of the cupshaped member I.

jacent shoulder formed by the segments IE or H is so designed as tocause the side edge of the arcuate portion to engage the adjacentshoulder of the segments l6 and i1 and when the member II is rotated andthe frictional engagement of the spring 3d with the cup shaped member 1is released. It will thus be noted that the driving action between thedriving member H and the driven member 25 is not*taken by the .ends ofthe spring but is taken by the solid portion of the driving and drivenmembers.

A driving gear 37 is formed with the squared aperture 38 of a size toclosely fit over the squared portion 22 of the member 2i! and one facethereof closely abuts the base 30 of the driven member 25 and the outerdiameter of the gear 37 is considerably smaller than the internal gearformed by the teeth 6 in the housing 5. A pair of pinion gears 39 areeach mounted upon a pin 4!} extending through and secured to the ringLil and the plate 42 and by referring to Figs. 3 and 5 it Will be seenthat the ring iii is positioned between one face of the pinion 3,9 andthe flange By referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3 it will beseen that the pinions39 engage the teeth 6 and the teethin the gear 3?.A driven gear 48 is rotatably mounted upon th cylindrical portion 23 ofthe member 20 and one face thereof is formed with the projection pins 44for permitting the gear to be secured to the plate 32 byiriveting overthe ends of the projections extending through suitable apertures in theplate.

The operation of the device is as follows: Upon rotation'of theregulator handle M in either direction the spring 3 4 will be releasedfrom frictional engagement with the cup shaped member 7 and will drivethe driven member 25 and since the same is mounted upon thesquaredportion 22 of the member 28 the same will be rotated in thesamedirection that the handle it is rotated and will rotate the driving gear37 as the same is likewise mounted upon the squared portion 22.

Rotation of the driving gear 3? will impart rotation to the pinions 39and will cause the same to travel around the teeth 6 in the member 5thereby rotating the plate 52 and the ring it? about the longitudinalaxis of the member 20 and since the gear 43 is secured to the plate 32the gear willin turn be driven thereby turning the gear segment 58 towhich the regulator arm (not shown) is suitably secured.

It Willbe noted that due tothe difference in diameters of the drivinggear 3i and the pinions 39 that the speed of rotation of the pinions 39about the axis of the member 20 will be considerably less than the speedof rotation of the gear 37' thereby increasing the power or leverageapplied to the gear segment 51?. It will thus be noted that all of thereduction gearing between the regulator handle M and the driven gear 33is self contained in the clutch housing thereby obviating the necessityof having any reduction gearing secured to the lock board 5. It will befurther noted that the device is rugged in construction and is soconstructed as to not easily get out of order in operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and. mode ofoperation, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is l. A clutch mechanism comprising a housing of L-shapedform in cross section, the peripheral wall of which is internallytoothed and the lateral wall of which has a central aperture, a secondhousing having a body fitting the said aperture and a flange overlyingthe inner face of the wall of the L-shaped housing, and notched toengage the said teeth thereof, a driving member in thesecond housing, adriven member having a part extending into the second housing, anexpandable coiled spring connected with the said extending part of thedriven member and associated with the driving member, said springnormally expanding in frictional contact with the inner wall of thesecond housing to normally hold the driven member from rotating thedriving member and releasable by rotation of the driving member ineither direction to thereby drive the driven member, a driving gear infixed relation with the driven member, a driven gear loosely mounted toturn on the axis of the driving member, a disc to which the driven gearis secured, and pinions on the disc intermediate the driving gear andthe internal teeth of the L- shaped housing whereby, through rotation ofthe driving element, the driven gear is rotated at a less speed.

2. A ciutch mechanism comprising a housing of L shaped form in crosssection, the peripheral wall of which is internally toothed and thelateral wall of which has a central aperture, a second housing having abody fitting the said aperture and a flange over-lying the inner face ofthe wall of the L-shaped housing and notched to engage the said teeththereof, a driving member in the second housing, clutch in the secondhousing preventing rotation of the driving member by the driven member,said spring clutch being releasable by rotation of the driving member ineither direction to drive the driven member, a driving gear in fixedrelation with the driven member, a' driven gear loosely mounted to turnon the axis of the driving member, a disc to which the driven gear issecured and pinions on the disc intermediate the driving gear and theinternal teeth of the L- shaped housing whereby through rotation of theriving member the driven gear is rotated at a slower speed.

ALOIS J. ZWIERZINA.

a driven member, a spring

